Every culture has different rules for pregnant women. While we were traveling through Thailand earlier this year I was about 5 months pregnant, and on more than one occasion we were told that it was okay for me to drink a bit of alcohol, even though I was expecting. The same opinion holds for some European cultures, but that would never be accepted here in China where rules for pregnancy are extremely strict. Chinese women have a special set of rules to follow. This list in not exhaustive. It is simply the rules that I can remember hearing, or reading about, over the last 9 months of being pregnant in China. Food and Diet Pregnancy is considered a “hot” condition, so to balance the scale between “hot and cold” or “ying and yang”, so called “cold foods” must be consumed throughout the pregnancy. I was therefore told by another pregnant…

Woman’s body is a very fragile and a complex system. A woman needs to spend a lot of time for our regular checks and consultations to keep a check on our system and remain healthy. Choosing gynecologist can be slightly stressful for a woman as she needs to be prepared to share some intimate information with the doctor if necessary. On the whole, a gynecologist may play a significant role in a woman’s health. China is a country which relies on a lot on their traditional Chinese medicine along with the use of advanced technologies. Gynecology in China – China is one of the most developed countries in terms of technology, but they give a lot of importance to their traditional methods of treatment. Chinese medicine handles the gynecology as complicated procedure in which they try to take a deep insight into the problem. Apart from directly treating a…

Many Expats in China who are expecting a baby prefer to have childbirth in an international hospital, as their staff are fluent in English. Besides the comfort of language, these hospitals also provide the latest emergency facilities and have experienced doctors who are trained in the West. Though these hospitals are more expensive then local ones, the expats are covered by international insurance which takes care of hospital charges. Expenses and facilities Expatriates fluent in Mandarin and Chinese couples can choose between government and private hospitals to have a baby in China, as both maintain a high level of hygiene and care for mothers and infants. Depending on the prenatal care and childbirth conditions, local China hospitals charge between RMB 8000 to RMB 50000 for delivery and stay. The vast difference between these charges is due to the type of ward selected and the type of delivery conducted depending on…

The healthcare system of Shanghai is finer when compared to second, third tier cities or rural areas, as it is a first tier city. That being said, the healthcare system is still perceived as limited by many expatriates. China being a vast country, the accessibility, care and the cost vary between different places. Healthcare service China’s healthcare can be described in one word as inconsistent. Rural areas are lacking basic medical facilities as compared to urban areas. In cities, the accessibility for medical services is much easier. China’s healthcare system is deficient. This is not the case with every facility, but many factors like subsequent queues, language barrier and slow service discourage many Westerners to seek medical treatment facilities in China. The methods of treatment in China vary, but it can be said that it is in accordance with Western standards. Expats using public medical treatments in China should be…

In China, the general populace follows the vaccination schedule; still, it is recommended for travelers to get vaccinated for certain diseases before taking a trip to China. Visit your doctor 4-8 weeks before your trip and get the required shots. Here is a low-down on recommended immunization shots if you are traveling to China. In the China immunization schedule, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B vaccines are compulsory for all citizens. Still, these are recommended for all travelers irrespective of whether they are visiting towns or cities. Hepatitis A is advised for everybody over one year of age. Vaccination for typhoid for travelers who may eat food outside of big hotels or restaurants is highly advocated. Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) shots are suggested for everybody born after 1956, provided that they had already not been affected by these three diseases earlier. Japanese encephalitis vaccine is endorsed for travelers who would…